Customer Reviews

Pro Tools 6 for Macintosh and Windows

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is more of a how-to reference manual. For each type of operation, it provides a description, what you can do with it, and then step-by-step instructions on how to do it. These operations are very logically organized throughout the book.

As an example, setting up a click track is one of the most counter-intuitive things in protools (to me), and this book walked me through it.

It's light on "recording technique" and heavy on ProTools, which was exactly what I was looking for.

My only complaint is that, in many cases, the author doesn't provide keyboard shortcuts, but rather walks you through the menus.

If you do not want to waste your time printing out the .pdf files of the ProTools manual, this book may be for you. It gives you the how-to's, but without much extra in the way of tips and real world applications of the various tools, which is what I am looking for. For me, this was a waste of money and I still need a decent book on home recording. YMMV.

Another reviewer said this was a reference book, and in fact, the back cover declares, "Works like a reference book--you look up what you need and then get straight to work.". If you are already familiar with Pro Tools, that may be true. But if you are new to PT, it's not very helpful in that manner, as the how-tos are not detailed enough, they require prior knowledge.

For example, the reviewer mentioned adding a click track. Well, step 2 is "Create a mono Auxilary input and insert the click plug-in." If you're reading this and don't already know what that means, you're out of luck, as not only is no further information about that step included here, but it does not tell you what page to go to to find that information. A beginner would need, at least, "(see page x)" for this kind of reference book to be useful. And no, using the index doesn't solve the problem, either. There is no entry for "create" or "mono" (in this context); none of the half dozen entries under "Auxillary input" will take you to a page that specifically tells you how to create one. There is an entry for "inserts, plug-ins as" but it is 4 pages long so you'll have to further browse to learn the actual process. And that process includes another insufficiently explained step which may send you searching still further.

Okay, so maybe now you're thinking, it may not be a great reference for beginniers, but maybe a beginner should go page-by-page so that s/he has the necessary background for understanding the instructions as they're presented. Well, the click track instructions are on page 155; the instructions about inserting a plug-in are on page 321. So that's not going to work, either.

This book may be useful for someone who already has some comfort with PT and wants something to point him or her in the right direction in figuring out how to accomplish a specific task. As that does not describe me, someone else will have to review it from that perspective. But the book is marketed to beginners (based on the cover phrases like "QuickStart," "Teach yourself Pro Tools...You'll be up and running in no time!"). And from that perspective, I don't think it does the job.

This book exceeds expectation. It is comprehensive, well-organized and very easy to read; and the multitude of visual examples make it ultra-quick to use. I picked it up to learn the new features in Pro Tools 6, but it has become my primary reference on Pro Tools software. This is the place to start if you are new to Pro Tools. It includes extensive diagrams for setting up a Digi 002 (RACK), MBox, Digi 001 studio. If you're an experienced (TDM) user (like me), it's a great reference manual to have on hand, as almost all software features are the same in LE and TDM. and it's much easier to read than the manual...It also features very useful discussions of audio fundamentals, including mic types, mic placement, using effects (EQ, Dynamic, spatial, etc.) and covers fundamentals of recording, editing, and mixing....a great buy!

Very basic, nothing much more than the users manual with a few tips thrown in. Instructions tell you how to do things, but not why. Settings are not explained. Some sections are repeated twice (how to create a new track for example) Well organized, but not helpful at all. No hookup diagrams for TDM systems. I returned it for a refund.

This book gives you everything you need to know about pro tools. It is very thorough and almost makes me not need to take the class I'm taking!!! Also very easy to understand and placed in small enough sections to comprehend. Very good!